Birmingham MP Jess Phillips has waded into the row over claims that pornography was found on a senior politician's computer - saying his defenders want the right to "w***" at work.

A retired Scotland Yard detective has claimed that “thousands” of pornographic images were found on Cabinet Minister Damian Green’s computer, when it was searched in 2008.

Police were widely criticised at the time for arresting Mr Green and searching his home and House of Commons office as they investigated where he had obtained information which embarrassed the Labour government.

Damian Green (Image: PA)

Former police officers have now claimed they found pornography on a computer, though they do not say the material was illegal.

Neil Lewis, who was a Met expert in analysing computers and part of the team that raided Mr Green’s Commons office, told the BBC he was “shocked” at the volume of pornographic images and had “no doubt whatsoever” in his mind that these were accessed by Mr Green.

London's Evening Standard newspaper has reported that David Davis, the Brexit Secretary who has a history of campaigning for civil liberties, has threatened to resign if Mr Green is sacked over the claims.

Responding to the reports, Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips said on Twitter: "David Davis your red line, your hill to die on is really something. 'What made you want to become an MP' 'Great question, I really wanted to fight hard so people can w*** at work'."

She added: "David Davis. Don't let the door hit you on the arse on your way out."

Jess Phillips

Birmingham MP Andrew Mitchell (Con Sutton Coldfield) has taken a different view.

He told the BBC: “The police need to explain why there was any record kept of entirely legal activity.”

Mr Green denies claims that he downloaded or viewed pornography on his office computer.

Speaking outside his home in his constituency of Ashford, the first secretary of state told the BBC he "still maintains it is the truth".

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The police search in 2008 came after Mr Green, an opposition shadow minister at the time, revealed that illegal immigrants were working in the security industry and that the Labour Governent had apparently attempted to cover the story up.

A junior Home Office official was eventually sacked. However, the £5 million, five-month police investigation collapsed.

Brexit Secretary David Davis

Police had arrested Mr Green under the Official Secrets Act but the Crown Prosecution Service said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute either Mr Green or the official because the government's immigration policy was not secret and did not affect national security or put lives at risk .

Among other things, Mr Green revealed that ministers had known for four months that thousands of illegal immigrants had been cleared to work as security guards but had not told Parliament.

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Critics said the police's behaviour was politically motivated. Shami Chakrabarti, now Labour's Shadow Attorney General and then the head of civil liberties organisation Liberty, was among those to raise concerns.

The claims made by former police officers now are not part of any police inquiry.